Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram said the Centre will provide 500 drinking water facilities in tribal mandals in Visakhapatnam in the next two years. He was speaking at the Tribal Kala Krithi programme organised by Geetha Society at AU Convocation Hall here on Saturday.
“The Centre is committed to supporting the tribal population of the region. Under the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, the government has allocated ₹ 500 crore. We want to channelise the funds to reach the targeted beneficiaries directly,” the Minister said. He further said that under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, a significant number of tribal population had been benefited.
Earlier, he was welcomed with a tribal folk dance. Mr Oram went around the stalls of Integrated Tribal Development Agency set up at the entrance of the venue. A short documentary made by Geetha Society on Araku was screened.
Speaking on the occasion, Araku MP Kothapalli Geetha said several villages in the Agency areas lack safe drinking water facilities and tribal women are forced to trek long distances for a pot of water. She urged the Central Government to look into the issue.
